Starting device



June 13, 1933. T, SAMPSELL 1,913,900

STARTING DEVICE Filed MaICh ll, 1932 Patented June 13, 1933 UNITED STA THOMAS LLOYD 'sAMPsELn or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS STARTING DEVICE Appneation inea March 11, 1932. serial No. 598,243. i

This inventionrelates to starting devices for horse races, and'morezparticularly to the type which are adaptedto restrain the horses at l the starting line and to vbe readily and H5 quickly released at the instant they race is intended to begin. f

The `general object of the invention is to provide a novelandimproved form of horse race Starting device.

A more particular object is to provide a device of this character which includes means Vadapted to be operated by each jockey to releasehismount upony the giving of a predetermined signal announcing the start of the race. e

In its preferred embodiment, theinvention contemplates the provision of semi-flexible means, such as cables, wrapped chains, or the like, .associated with the horses bridles, whereby they may be connected to each other and-to starting posts on either side* ofthe track, and Vindividual means for separately detaching the semi-flexible meansffrom the bridles at the start of the race.

Other objectsV and features of novelty will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon a consideration of the following specification when read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of lthe invention are illustrated by way of example. i v In the drawing:

Figure. 1 isa'fragmentary view` in perspective of the starting line of a race track, illustratingthe application of the invention;

Figure 2 is aview in front elevation of a portion of a bridle to whichA my improved Starting'device has been applied, a portion of one of the bity rings Vbeing Shown inr cross section;

Figure 3 is adetailed perspective view illustrating the manner by which the device is released atthestart of'a race; and

Figure 4 is a detailed view showing a modification of my improved starting device.

InFig111`'"e 1 of the drawing, several horses are A shown lined up in order between the starting vposts 10 and 11 disposed on either si' de of the track. Instead of the usual complicated barrier structure employed in starting races of this type, the present invention contemplates the provision of a simple means for' connecting the bridles 12 of the contesting horses to each other at bits, or directly at the ends also means for connecting points near the of the bits, and the outside and inside horses to the posts 10 and' 11. The bridles 12 are ofthe usual simple type generally applied to race horses and are seen to comprise the cheek pieces 1 14, the fronts 15, the throa 3, the nose band t latches 16, the

bits 17 (together with their rings 18)and the snailie reins 20. In the illustrated eme bodiment, each of the bit vided with small llinks 21 rings 18 ispro'- `which are providedwith two eyes, one of which is adapted to receive the ring 18 and the other numbered 30, to provide means for detachably connecting the lengths of semi-flexible material 22 by `which the bridles' of adjacent 70 in leather or any suitable fabric such as canvas or the like, as shown at 24. The connecting members 22 which are used to secure the inside horses to the inner post 11,

and also those which are e mployed to connect adjacent horses, may be approximately two and one-half feet in length, and Since the number of entries in a race is seldom enough to form a line extending entirely across the track, the outside connecting mem- 8 ber 25 may be of any necessary length to extend from the outside h orse to the post "10. Any Suitable type of vdetachable connection 26 may be employed to secure these 9G end members to the posts.

' vEach end of each of the connecting members 22 is provided with means Vsuch as, for example, the bifurcated member 28, the arms ofr which are perforated as at 29 and are adapted to receive between them 'the link 21 9 attached to the bit ring 18. The holes 29 of the member 28 and the perforation 30 of the linke-21 are adapted to re are connected, and a suita 31 is adapted to pass thereth gister when they ble pin member rough, as clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. This connection is, of course, Iduplicated on the opposite side of the hcrses head, and the two pins 3l are connected by means of the light cord or line 32 which provides a .sort of supplemental or auxiliary rein by which the jockey may withdraw the pins 8l and thus quickly release the connectingl and restraining elements 22. When these elements are released at the start of a race, they drop down upon the track and remain there until they are gathered up for use in a subsequent contest. rlhese members 22 provide no obstacle te the progress ost the horses since, due to their semi-flexible nature, they are not likely to be wrapped around the horses legs but will be merely kicked aside it they happen to fall in trent of the animal. The releasing` rein 32 together with the pins 3l may, 01"" course, be discarded by the jockey whenv the race has begun, or means, not shown, may be provided for retaining the releasing apparatus on the horse during the race. i

It will be readily understood that the detachable connection between the horses bridles and the connecting members 22 may be varied in any manner within the scope of the present invention and may comprise, iii' desired, any type et quick detachable snap connection which may be applied to an ordinary type ot bit ring without modiiication thereof.

In a modified form of the device, illustrated in Figure l of the drawing, the bit member 17 is provided at each of its ends near the point where they are connected to the bit rings 18', with the proj ectons or lugs 21 which corresponds in function to the members 2l of the previously described embodiment and which are provided with the perforations through which the-releasing pin is adapted to extend. In this embodiment, any tension in the aligned restraining elements will be transmitted directly from one adjacent bit to the other and will thus eliminate distortion cic the bit Varangements which might possibly occur if the connections were made at other points around the bit rings.

The advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent. rlhe securing of the horses to each other and to the starting posts at properly spaced intervals affords a means for preventing` high-strung and nervous animals from rearing, prancing, or otherwise interfering with each other, as is very frequently the case when it is endeavored to line them up before an ordinary barrier at the start of the race. The present device insures an even start or, at any rate, puts the burden of making a quick getaway upon the individual jockey, whose duty it is, upon the giving of the starting signal, to release his own mount.

It will be readily understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is l. In a starting device for horse races, in combination, restraining means for said horses and individual means associated with each horse operated by the jockey for releasing said restraining means.

2. In a starting device for horse races or the like, in combination,.restraining means for the horses and individual means associated with the harness of each horse operated by the jockey for releasing said restraining means from said horse.

3. In a starting device for horse races or the like, in combination, restraining means directly connecting adjacent horses and a separate means associated with each horse and under the control of the jockey for releasing said restraining means.

4. In a starting device for horse races or the like, in combination, a starting post, restraining means directly connecting adjacent horses and the end one to said post, and a separate means associated with each horse for releasing said horse from the next adjacent one and from said starting post.

5. ln a starting device for horse races or the like, in combination, a series of members adapted to connect the bridles of adjacent Y horses, and separate means associated with each bridle under the control of the jockey for releasing said connecting members.

6. ln a starting device for horse races or the like, in combination, a pair of starting posts, restraining means comprising a series of semi-flexible members, some of them adapted to connect the bridles of adjacent horses together and the others adapted to connect the bridles of the end horses of the starting line with said posts, and releasing means comprising a supplemental rein associated with each bridle and adapted to eiect quick attachment of said members from-said bridles when actuated by the jockey.

7. In a starting device for horse races or the like, in combination, a starting post on each side of the track, restraining means for the horses comprising a series of semi-flexible elements, the end ones of said elements adapted to be connected with said posts, quick detachable connecting means for securing said elements to the bit rings of the bridles and a supplemental rein associated with saidquick detachable means, whereby each jockey may release his mount from said restraining means upon the giving of the signal for the start of the race.

8. In a starting device for horse races or the like, in combination, a starting post on each side of the track, restraining means for the horses comprising a series of semi-flexible elements, the end ones of said elements adapted to be connected With said posts, quiekdetachable connecting means for securing said elements to the ends of the bits, and a supplemental rein associated lwith said quick detachable means, whereby each jockey may release his mount from said restraining means upon the giving of the signal for the start of theV race. A Y

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

THOMAS LLOYD SAMPSELL'. 

